Authors:

Aurélien Saussay, Misato Sato, Francesco Vona, Layla O’Kane

Abstract:

Accurately identifying low-carbon jobs is central to understanding the labour market impacts of the low-carbon transition. We develop a novel methodology to identify low-carbon jobs using the near universe of online job postings between 2010-2019 in the US. The share of low-carbon ads in the US economy remains low at 1.3%, but growing in low-skilled and declining in high-skilled occupations. We show that the green skill gaps are larger and broader than previously considered. Emphasis on technical and managerial skills is a particularly distinguishing characteristic of all low-carbon intensive occupations, but low-carbon ads also have higher skill requirements in general. The low- carbon wage premium is positive in the early period, but declined in more recent years, resonating with changes in the policy landscape for in the US.